shameen

S Korea says solemn farewell to “great leader” Kim

by

Seoul, August 23: South Korea on Sunday said a solemn farewell to Kim Dae-Jung, who battled dictators to bring democracy and strove to make peace with communist North Korea when he became president.

Kim, who died on Tuesday aged 85, was “a great leader of modern history” who won worldwide respect, Prime Minister Han Seung-Soo told a state funeral for the Nobel prizewinner.

Thousands of politicians, foreign dignitaries and ordinary people attended the ceremony, staged outside parliament to signify Kim’s contribution to democracy.

Courts can’t substitute medical opinion: SC

by

New Delhi, August 23: The Supreme Court has held that courts cannot substitute the opinion of the medical board and decide that a person had developed “schizophrenia” on account of his service condition.

The apex court made the observation while upholding an appeal filed by the Union government challenging a decision of the Kerala High Court to grant pensionary benefits to family of A V Damodaran who died of schizophrenia in 1984 while working in the Indian Army as a “Sapper”.

India seeks Anup Chetia’s deportation from B’desh

by

New Delhi, August 23: India has asked Bangladesh to deport outlawed ULFA leader Anup Chetia, whose jail term is going to end soon, and hopes the Sheikh Hasina government would accede to the request in view of its tough resolve against terrorism.

Chetia, whose real name is Golap Baruah, has been in jail since his arrest in Dhaka in January 1998 from Shyamoli area under the Foreigners Act and the Passports Act.

“His (Chetia’s) jail term is coming to an end shortly and India has asked Bangladesh to send him here after that,” a source said.

In-built deficiencies plague mid-day meal scheme: CAG

by

New Delhi, August 23: Implementation of the mid-day meal scheme in schools suffered due to in-built deficiencies at “every stage” starting from its planning and the served food lacked in quality as regular inspections of the institutes were not conducted, the CAG has said.

In its audit evaluation of the scheme, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India came down heavily on the Ministry of Human Resource Development and the states for not conducting a base line survey.

Mother’s nomination does not end wife’s PF rights: SC

by

New Delhi, August 23: The Supreme Court has ruled that a wife’s succession right does not get destroyed merely because the husband prior to the marriage had made his mother the nominee for his provident fund and other retirement benefits.

A bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Mukundakam Sharma said a nominee does not get any automatic right merely because he/she had been nominated to receive the amount and benefits of the deceased.

Over 4 lakh drivers fined for jumping red light in Delhi

by

New Delhi, August 23: Delhiites behind the wheels seem to be the most impatient drivers as a whopping 4.36 lakh of them were challaned for jumping red lights, making the offence the highest among traffic violations in the city this year.

A total of 22,07,764 people were caught while bending traffic rules till August 20 this year, with red light jumping topping the list of violations with 43,6,181 challans followed by improper parking (3,61,807).

Racial attacks: Indians in Oz more cautious about safety

by

Melbourne, August 23: Avoiding late-night travel and sitting close to tram drivers here are among some steps being followed by Indian students, who have become “more vigilant” than before in the wake of a spate of attacks against the youths from the community in Australia.

“These days we leave our accommodation early and return early. In trams, sitting near the driver is also an ideal option. We have become more vigilant than before,” Rajesh Ramnathan, a Ph.D student at RMIT University here, said.

Vishal Bharadwaj – from critical acclaim to blockbusters

by

New Delhi, August 23: His directorial debut ‘Makdee’ didn`t rake in the moolah but was widely appreciated. So were ‘Maqbool’, ‘The Blue Umbrella’ and ‘Omkara’ for their alternative climaxes and literary influences. Now with the huge success of his latest ‘Kaminey’, versatile filmmaker Vishal Bharadwaj has also proved to be a Box-Office hit.

FBI director outraged by Lockerbie bomber release

by

Washington, August 23: FBI Director Robert Mueller blasted Scotland’s justice minister for releasing the Lockerbie bomber, calling it an act that “gives comfort to terrorists” all over the world.

Mueller sent a scathing letter to Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who cited compassionate grounds in his decision to let Abdel Baset al-Megrahi return to Libya because he has prostate cancer and was given only months to live by British doctors.

Miffed with Friday’s Delhi airport chaos, Govt seeks explanation

by

New Delhi, August 23: The civil aviation ministry has sought an explanation from the airport developer here and will soon summon its top officials after a portion of a roof at the new terminal collapsed Friday, even as torrential rains resulted in waterlogging at key areas and disrupted flights.

“The government has taken a serious note of the terminal flooding. We have sought a full report from the developers on flooding and the damage caused to a brand new terminal,” a civil aviation ministry spokesperson told agency Saturday.

Maoists call for two-day bandh in five states

by

Kolkata, August 23: The CPI(M) tonight called for a two-day bandh on Monday and Tuesday in five states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to demand release of two of its cadres allegedly arrested by Bihar police on August 19.

CPI(M) leader Kishanji said tonight that the bandh have been called in the five states to demand release of two of its cadres — Anil and Kartick — who were alleged arrested by Bihar police somewhere near Patna on August 19 while they were travelling in a train.

Rani-Shahid on India’s Got Talent!

by

Mumbai, August 23: is the grand finale of India’s Got Talent on Network 18’s Colors.

After months of outstanding performances by many talented people, the show is finally down to 11 finalists.

What’s more, stars Rani Mukerji and Shahid Kapur are slated to appear as special guests!

Britain’s Got Talent’s first runner up, a group called Signature, will also put up a brilliant performance on the show.

Each finalist gives his or her best in order to achieve the title of India’s Best Entertainer.

Ex-envoy Begins Nuclear

by

Abu Dhabi, August 23: He is a political economist who has negotiated a number of trade agreements on behalf of the Philippine government, chaired a group of developing countries to discuss economic issues at the United Nations, a good arbitrator and a career diplomat whose postings included Geneva, Brussels, New York, Sydney and lately Abu Dhabi as his country’s ambassador to 
the UAE.

And now, Libran N. Cabactulan is president of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference, which will be held in May next year.

Vice-President Pardons 595 Prisoners

by

Dubai, August 23: His Highness Shaikh 
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has ordered the release of 595 prisoners from the Dubai Punitive and Correctional Establishments on the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. Sixty-two of those pardoned inmates were UAE nationals.

Dubai Attorney General Essam 
Al Humaidan expressed profound gratitude to Shaikh Mohammed for 
the humanitarian and social gesture which would have far-reaching good impact on the families of the released prisoners.

Khalifa Exchanges Ramadan Greetings

by

Abu Dhabi, August 23: The President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, exchanged Ramadan greetings with President Ali Abdullah Saleh of Yemen in a phone call on Saturday.

Shaikh Khalifa also exchanged similar greetings with Prince Sultan bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud, Saudi Arabian Crown Prince, Deputy Prime Minister, and Defence and Avian Minister.

In a telephonic conversation, Shaikh Khalifa received greetings on the start of the holy month of Ramadan from Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh.

–Agencies

Dubai Cares Starts ‘Thirst for Education’ Campaign

by

Dubai, August 23: Dubai Cares has launched ‘Thirst for Education’ campaign to provide children in developing countries with access to clean drinking water, the charity announced on Saturday.

The campaign will run throughout Ramadan, giving the UAE community an opportunity to contribute to an initiative that will have a profound impact on the lives of children.

Reem Al Hashimi, chairperson of Dubai Cares, said the charity’s achievements were just the beginning and ‘Thirst for Education’ would take the campaign forward.

Know Ramadan, Know Local Culture

by

Dubai, August 23: It is against the law to eat and drink in public in the UAE during the holy month of Ramadan, but it has more to do with understanding and accepting the cultural norms of the country one resides in, than just deeming it as an offence, advise scholars.

Fasting Helps Give Up Undesirable Habits

by

Dubai, August 23: It’s a month when one can learn to eat healthy, exercise, connect with oneself and even quit smoking. Fasting during Ramadan, as experts put it, can help do away with unhealthy habits for a better life.

Fasting during the holy month alters the normal routine of Muslims and makes them conscious of their behaviour and choices.

I’ll marry for kids: Salman

by

Mumbai, August 23: Bollywood’s bad boy, known for his knack for walking into trouble, Salman Khan appears to be calmer, serene and increasingly philosophical.

Sample this statement from the hunk, “I believe in making my own destiny. Your future depends on what you are at this point. If you mess up this present moment then you are affecting your future too, but if you are on the right track then it automatically lifts your future, it is like taking your destiny up.”

Obama wants honest health care debate

by

Washington, August 23: President Barack Obama is challenging critics of his push to overhaul the health care system to stop making “phony claims” about proposals now the subject of intense coast-to-coast debate.

“This is an issue of vital concern to every American, and I’m glad that so many are engaged,” Obama said in his weekly radio and Internet address Saturday. “But it also should be an honest debate, not one dominated by willful misrepresentations and outright distortions, spread by the very folks who would benefit the most by keeping things exactly as they are.”

Hurricane Bill Moves North, Threatening to Soak Coast

by

August 23: Hurricane Bill was downgraded to a Category 1 storm on Saturday evening as it traveled north toward Canada, after blowing through Bermuda and bringing dangerous swells and rip currents to beaches on the Atlantic coast of the United States.

The Boardwalk was quiet on Friday at Coney Island as beaches there and elsewhere were closed. Many remained closed Saturday.

Police scour Canada for millionaire murder suspect

by

Buena Park, August 23: Canadian authorities on Saturday intensified the manhunt for the millionaire reality TV star accused of murdering a former swimsuit model and stuffing her naked, mutilated body in a suitcase.

“We’re leaving no stone unturned, but we have to play our cards close to our chest right now,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Sgt. Duncan Pound.

The search for Ryan Alexander Jenkins, a 32-year-old real estate developer and investor from Calgary, is centered around Vancouver and British Columbia, said Peter Van Loan, Canada’s public safety minister.

Gordon Brown in new storm over freed Lockerbie bomber

by

London, August 23: Gordon Brown faced fresh questions tonight after it emerged that he discussed with Colonel Gaddafi detailed conditions for the Lockerbie bomber’s return nearly six weeks ago, while senior Labour figures warned of an economic backlash from angry Americans “costing our country dear”.

Downing Street released the text of a cordial letter sent to the Libyan leader on the day that Abdulbaset al-Megrahi was released, asking that the event be kept low key because a “high-profile” ceremony would distress his victims and their families.

NKorean envoys meet SKorean president: official

by

Seoul, August 23: Envoys sent to Seoul by North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il on Sunday met with South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak, a presidential official said.

“It’s true. President Lee has met the North Korean envoys,” a South Korean presidential official told asking for anonymity, without elaborating.

The meeting, originally set for 10:00 am (0100 GMT), was moved up by about one hour.

–AFP

Ban on Jaswant book: Modi is the first and the odd BJP CM out

by

New Delhi, August 23: In trying to give legal sanctity to a controversial political move, the Narendra Modi government in Gujarat has banned expelled BJP leader Jaswant Singh’s book on the bizarre grounds that its contents are “against the national interest” and could “mislead the public” and “disrupt public peace.”

Clearly, Modi’s view is not shared by his party counterparts in the BJP-ruled states of Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.